Ballot Pedia, Matthew Wood

Matthew is originally from Belleville, New Jersey, and now resides in Johnston County, North Carolina. He received an associate's degree from Illinois Central College and a bachelor's degree from Coastal Carolina University. He has been married for 25 years to his wife Mary and is the father of two children. 

Matthew is an insurance broker. He previously worked at McDonald's before joining the US Army Reserves. 

Matthew Wood's campaign for State Representative in State House District 26 is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Believes in advocating for responsible business practices that prioritize communities over corporations. Supports policies that address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation with a community-first approach.

- Believes in advocating for responsible business practices that prioritize communities over corporations. Supports policies that address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation with a community-first approach.

Economy

The candidate's website says, "Advocating for Farmers and Rural Prosperity: Preserving Our Agricultural Legacy, Securing Our Future."

Plans to preserve North Carolina's "agricultural legacy" by advocating for farmers and "rural prosperity."

Wants to invest in public transportation.

- Plans to preserve North Carolina's "agricultural legacy" by advocating for farmers and "rural prosperity."
- Wants to invest in public transportation.

Energy & the Environment

Believes in advocating for comprehensive healthcare reforms focusing on accessibility, affordability, and quality care. Supports initiatives to close coverage gaps, lower infant mortality rates, ease financial burdens, and safeguard women's reproductive rights.

Advocates for comprehensive healthcare reforms focusing on accessibility, affordability, and quality care. Supports initiatives to close coverage gaps, lower infant mortality rates, ease financial burdens, and protect "women's reproductive rights."

Believes the healthcare system faces "dire challenges" and criticizes the GOP-led legislature for inaction, contributing to high infant mortality and restrictive abortion policies.

Believes significant healthcare reforms are needed to ensure access to quality care for all North Carolinians.

Believes in preserving women's rights to control their bodies. Supports access to abortion and healthcare autonomy.

Supports access to abortion and healthcare autonomy.

Believes North Carolina's healthcare crises require urgent action. Plans to fight for the well-being of all residents.

Believes North Carolinians deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being over political agendas. Supports real action to address the healthcare crisis and ensure access to necessary care for all residents.

Believes North Carolinians deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being over political agendas. 

Supports implementing "evidence-based cannabis policies."

- Advocates for comprehensive healthcare reforms focusing on accessibility, affordability, and quality care. Supports initiatives to close coverage gaps, lower infant mortality rates, ease financial burdens, and protect "women's reproductive rights."
- Supports access to abortion and healthcare autonomy.
- Believes North Carolinians deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being over political agendas. 
- Supports implementing "evidence-based cannabis policies."

Healthcare

Believes the legislative majority in North Carolina seeks to "circumvent the will of the people" and make it harder to participate in democracy. Opposes gerrymandering and legislative interference in local Boards of Elections.

Believes the legislative majority in North Carolina is undermining democracy by regulating its own elections, defying judicial rulings, and engaging in gerrymandering to target black people.

Believes preserving democracy requires preventing any single party from dominating the Legislature. Supports promoting bipartisanship to ensure balanced governance and reflect the collective will of the people.

Supports allowing the legislature to declare emergencies.

- Believes the legislative majority in North Carolina is undermining democracy by regulating its own elections, defying judicial rulings, and engaging in gerrymandering to target black people.
- Believes preserving democracy requires preventing any single party from dominating the Legislature. Supports promoting bipartisanship to ensure balanced governance and reflect the collective will of the people.
- Supports allowing the legislature to declare emergencies.

Voting & Elections

Believes in balancing rights and safety by advocating for responsible gun laws. Supports comprehensive public safety measures, including effective policing, criminal justice reform, and addressing drug-related crimes.

Believes in balancing rights and safety by advocating for "responsible gun laws." Supports comprehensive public safety measures, including effective policing, criminal justice reform, and addressing drug-related crimes.

Plans to advocate for "equal rights and opportunities" for the LGBTQ+ community.

- Believes in balancing rights and safety by advocating for "responsible gun laws." Supports comprehensive public safety measures, including effective policing, criminal justice reform, and addressing drug-related crimes.
- Plans to advocate for "equal rights and opportunities" for the LGBTQ+ community.

Public Safety

Opposes school choice and voucher programs, believing they undermine equitable education. Supports "equal and public education" as essential for a fair and prosperous future.

Believes education should be inclusive, equitable, and secular, accessible to all children regardless of background. Supports strengthening public schools with necessary funding and resources to ensure high-quality education for every student.

Believes diverting public funds to private institutions widens educational disparities. Supports investing in public schools to create an inclusive environment for all students.

Believes "equal and public education at all levels is increasingly under attack." Supports protecting and investing in schools to prepare all students.

Believes in prioritizing public education to prepare students for a diverse and interconnected world.

Believes equal and public education at all levels is "increasingly under attack." Supports preparing all students through improved K-12 school policies and accessible college education.

Supports preparing all students through improved K-12 school policies and accessible college education.

Believes in "Protecting Our Schools, Investing in Our Future" by ensuring equal education for all. Supports policies that enhance K-12 education, improve college access, and prioritize children's educational needs.

The candidate's website says, "Empowering Parents, Supporting Children: Prioritizing Affordable Childcare"

Believes in the need to "protect and invest in our schools." Supports policies that enhance education for children, college students, and K-12 schools.

- Opposes school choice and voucher programs, believing they undermine equitable education. Supports "equal and public education" as essential for a fair and prosperous future.
- Believes education should be inclusive, equitable, and secular, accessible to all children regardless of background. Supports strengthening public schools with necessary funding and resources to ensure high-quality education for every student.
- Believes diverting public funds to private institutions widens educational disparities. Supports investing in public schools to create an inclusive environment for all students.
- Supports preparing all students through improved K-12 school policies and accessible college education.
- Prioritizes affordable childcare.

Education

As of June 14, 2024, Matthew Wood’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Matthew Wood

Matthew William Wood, 54, originally from Belleville, New Jersey, now resides in Johnston County, North Carolina. He has been married for 25 years to his wife Mary and is the father of two children, Mattie Elizabeth and George William. Matthew attended Coastal Carolina University where he earned his BA. Details about the church he attends were not provided.

Matthew Wood is an insurance broker with a history of diverse work experiences. He started working at a young age, with early jobs including mowing grass and working at his parents' feed store. Later, he worked at McDonald's before joining the US Army Reserves. After his military service, he earned a BA from Coastal Carolina University.

As of July 8, 2024, Matthew Wood’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes North Carolina's healthcare crisis requires urgent action. Supports addressing issues like abortion, medical marijuana, insurance, public health, and COVID-19.

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 129 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
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- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina House of Representatives.